Vending machine



22, 1940. M. H RiCHARDSON ET AL v VENDING MACHINE Filed April' 26. 19394 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1940. M. H. RiCHARDSON ET AL 2,218,657v

VENDING MACHINE Filed April 26. 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 22, 1940. H.RICHARDSON Er AL 2,218,657

VENDING MACHINE Filed April 26. 1959 4 Sheets-$heet 3 i E z I5554:5555!!! inltalfliillrlllavneiiaivvlllltali 30 O Q 3 a. 9 0 9 9 ,9.1 9

37 2 4 gz 0 H $6 GM] Get: 22, 1943 M. H. REQZ=ZARDN AL VENDING MACHINEFiled April 26. 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4941155511549/111irlflirlinrlaPatented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENDING MACHINE MyronH. Richardson and Floyd 0. Black, Chicage, and Albert E. Gebert,Wilmette, 111., assigners to Advance Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a.corporation of Illinois Application April 26, 1939, Serial No. 270,092 9Claims. (01. 3124s) This invention relates to improvements in vendingmachines of the type in which there is maintained a plurality ofsupplies of articles to be vended, each supply being arranged in aseparate container, which latter are disposed one in advance of theother, the articles being dispensed from one of-thecontainers,preferably the rear container, in advanceof the delivery of any of thearticles from the front container, the articlesin the front containerbeing dispensed only after the supply is exhausted from the rearcontainer.

A further object is to provide in a machine of this character a singledelivery outlet from the machine and a single ejector for ejecting thearticles from the respective supplies.

A further object is to-provide improved means I for locking ormaintaining one of the supply containers in position to have thearticles ejected and for maintaining the other container in an out ofthe way position with respect to the path of operation of the ejector.

A further'object is to provide in a machine of this character improvedmeans associated with the ejector for releasing or unlocking the lockedcontainer, and improved means which will be rendered active when thesaid locking means is rendered inactive, whereby the article containerswill be automatically shifted one with respect to the other to move theempty container out of the way and the'full container in position withrespect to the path of operation ofthe ejector, so that the articleswill be ejected or vended from the container in which there is'a supplyof articles.

A further object is to provide improved mechanism for rejecting orreturning to the operator an inserted coin or'check of proper value.when the containers are empty, and improved means whereby such mechanismwill be maintained inactive when the articles are being dispensed fromone of the containers, and also improved means operableby a relativeshifting of the containers, one with respect to the other, to render thecoin return mechanism active, adapting the said mechanism to be renderedinactive by the presence of articles in the other container, said coinreturn mechanism being rendered active again when the supply ofarticlesin the last said container is exhausted.

A further object is to provide an improved han dle or operating knobstructure for the ejector which will yield under abnormal conditions,whereby the parts of the mechanism will be prevented frombecoming-damaged.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of-othernewanduseful objects as will appear, the invention consists in the features ofnovelty in substantially the construction, combination and arrangementof the several parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed andshown in the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention, and inwhich Figure 1 is a view partly in vertical section and partly insideelevation of a machine of this character constructed in accordance withthe principles of this invention and with the top portion of the machineomitted.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the article containers and aportion of the ejecting mechanism showing the article containers inposition whereby the articles will be vended from the rear container.

Figure l is a detail sectional View, on an enlarged scale, showing theparts in the position they will assume when the article is to be vendedfrom the rear container and with the ejecting mechanism approximately atthe end of its return stroke.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 4, with'parts omitted, and showingthefront container lowered to a position to have the articles vendedtherefrom and with the rear container elevated.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view with parts broken away of theejector.

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken on line 8-8 Figure 10,

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken on line 99 Figure 10.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional View, on an enlarged scale, of theoperating knob or handle. I

Figure 11 is a view in detail, with parts omitted, showing the checkcarriers.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral l5 designatesgenerally an enclosing housing or casing which may be of any desiredsize and configuration and is provided with a discharge outlet openingIS. The front of the casing may be provided with an opening closed by atransparent element l1 and within the base of the casing may be arrangeda chute 18 for directing the articles ontoan incline Hi to be deliveredthrough the opening l6. 7

The articles to be vended are arranged within two containers 2ll-2Iwhich may be of any desired configuration but are preferably formed toprovide a frontwall 22 a portion of which is removed as at 23 so as toafford a view of the articles in the container and also to facilitate inthe loading of the containers.

At the bottom of the container 2| is arranged a rearwardly projectingledge 24 to serve as a support for the articles and this ledge ispreferably of a length considerably less than the width of thecontainer. At the bottom of the forward container 2|]v is provided asimilar ledge or shelf 25 which is provided with a slot or opening 26therein, for a purpose to be described.

These containers 202| are connected together for relative longitudinallyshifting movement and to that end there is provided a supporting framecomprising uprights 2'| secured to each of which is a base member 29connected together adjacent their rear ends by means of a cross bar orrod 30 (see Figure 3) and each of these members 29 is provided with aslot 3| opening through the lower edge thereof, for a purpose to bedescribed.

These members 21 are arranged on opposite sides of the containers2|'.|-2| and may be connected together by means of suitable connectingmembers 32 disposed between the containers 29--2|, which latter arearranged back to back .ind spaced for a sufficient distance toaccommodate the connecting member or members 32 and also to permit of arelative longitudinal movement of the containers one with respect to theother. At'the upper'ends of each of the uprights 2! may be provided alateral projecting lug 33 for a purpose to be described.

Pivotally connected to the uprights 21 and at any desired points throughthe length thereof are any desired or suitable number of levers 34, thelevers being connected to the respective members 2'! intermediate theirends by means of pivots 35 and at their free ends as at 363'I to therespective containers 2U2| preferably through the medium of upright bars20'2| so that by the movement of the containers longitudinally one withrespect to the other the levers 34 will be swung about the pivots 35 andthe levers will also have a pivotal movement at their points ofconnection with the containers.

Connected to one of the uprights 2! is a bracket or member 38 and aspring 39 is connected by one end, as at 4|], with the bracket 38 and isanchored at its other end, as at 4|, to the container 2|. This spring 39tends normally to shift the container 2| longitudinally with respect tothe container 20 and thereby swing the levers 34 about their pivots 35to raise the container 2| and lower the container 20.

Projecting from the wall of the container 2| is a lug 42 and pivotallymounted upon the wall of the casing l5, as at 43, is a spring controlleddog 44 having a shoulder 45 which is adapted to engage over the 'lug 42to hold the container 2| in its lowermost position and against thestress of the spring 39, and thereby maintain the container 2|] in itselevated position.

The base member 29 of the supporting frame for the containers may beprovided with a cut away portion 46 which passes over the supportingpivot pin of the dog44. A stop 47 is also provided on the wall of thecasing l5 against which theend 48 of the dog 44 is adapted to engage soas to limit the movement of the dog 44 in one direction.

A shoulder 49 is also provided on the dog 44 by means of which the dog44 may be swung about its pivot against the stress of its holdin spring39 so that the dog 44 may be moved out of engagement with the lug 42 torelease the container 2| so that the stress or energy stored in thespring 39 together with the weight of the articles in the container 20will cause the container 2| to be raised and the container 26 to belowered, in a manner to be described.

The levers 34 are preferably arranged on eac side of the containers.

The ejector mechanism consists of a slide 50 which is mounted upon asupport 5| and the slide may be guided in its movement by means of itslateral edges 52 being bent around the edges of the support 5|. Theseedges or flanges 52 may be-formed on a plate which is secured to theslide 50 or may be formed by means of angular shaped members secured tothe bottom of the slide 50.

The lateral edges of the slide 50 are preferably deflected downwardly,as at 53, to form a support for a frame 54 of substantially U shape, theends 55 of the frame being secured to the downwardly extending portions53 of the slide. Secured to the frame 54 is another frame 56 ofsubstantially U shape formation, the arms 51 of which are secured to theside members of the frame 54 and the frames 54 and 56 are so arranged asto provide spaces of substantial area therein.

A U shaped member comprising a body 58 and arms 59 is arranged withinthe frame 56 and the arms 59 are pivotally connected as at 60 to theside members of the frame 56 so as to stand within the space in theframe and be adapted for pivotal movement with respect to the frame.Carried by one of the side members 59 of the frame is a pin or lug 6|that extends through a slot 62 (see Fig. '7) that opens through thebottom of the side member 51 of the frame 56, and a spring 63encompasses the pivot 60, one end of the spring 64 engaging and restingupon a lug 65 on the member 56 while the other end 66 of the springprojects under and contacts the lug 6|. The tendency of the spring 63 isto move the frame 5859 about its pivot 60 until the lu 6| engages thebottom of the slot 62 to arrest the movement of the frame in an upwarddirection, yet a pressure upon the frame 58 will cause it to move aboutthe pivot 6|] in the opposite direction so that projecting fingers 61which are carried by the frame 58 will be depressed during the movementof the slide or ejector and at predetermined times during its cycle ofoperation. If desired, the free ends of the members 61 may be inclinedto form a beveled surface to facilitate the fingers or projections 61passing under the articles in the containers.

Pivotally mounted upon the slide 5|], as at 69, is an arm or lever 10which projects rearwardly toward the frame 58 and is provided with ahook shaped portion or shoulder 1| and an inclined or beveled surface 12adjacent thereto. A spring 13 is connected at one end, as at 14, to thearm 10 and is anchored as at I5 to the slide 5|]. The tendency of thespring 13 is to hold the shoulder or hook shaped portion 1| elevated andthe arm 10 is disposed to move adjacent the dog 44.

When the arm 10 is in an elevated position, as shown in Figure 7 andwhen the slide 59 is reciprocated, the shoulder 1| will have no effectupon the dog 44 but, when the arm 10 is disposed against the stress ofthe spring 13, in a manner to be described, the shoulder H on the armwill, upon the forward movement of the slide 50, engage over theshoulder 49 on the dog 44, to swing the dog about its pivot 43 againstthe stress of its controlling spring 44A to move the shoulder 45 of thedog out of engagement with the lug 42, thereby releasing the container2| and permitting the spring'39 to shift the container 2| longitudinallyto raise the latter and the raising movement will through the medium ofthe levers 34 cause the container 29 to belowered into alposition thatthearticles may be dispensed from the container 29. This operation,however, will not be effected until after all of the articles 16 in thecontainer 2| have been dispensed. I

When the last article 16 has been dispense from the container 2| aweight Tl having a projecting arm or lug 78 will be lowered so that theprojection will'engage the arm 19 and move it about its pivot 69 tolower the shoulder H so that it will be in a position that upon the nextforward movement of the slide 5,9the shoulder1l on the arm 19 willengage'the shoulder 49'on the dog 44, as shown more clearly in Figure 6,to swing the dog 44 about its pivot 43 and thereby move the shoulder 45of the dog out of engagement with the lug 42. 1

When the container 2! has been shifted or moved upwardly by the spring39 and the container 29 lowered, the weight T! resting upon the platformor ledge 24 of the container 2!, will be raised with the container sothat the extension '58 on the weight will be moved out of contact withthe shoulder 49 thus permitting the spring 73 to raise the arm or lever19 so that the shoulder ll will be moved into a position that uponreciprocation of the slide 59 the shoulder "II will not engage theshoulder .49 on the dog 44.

. The base members 29, uprights 21 and containers 29-2l constitute aunitary structure and is insertable into and removable from the casing Ias such, but the slide Stand the ejectormecha "nism together with thearm 19 are mounted so that the lugs 33 may be passed into the grooves39. The grooves are provided with a depressed portion or seat 8| forreceiving the lugs 33."

In placing the unit within the casing 'l5,- the downwardly opening slots3| in the base members 29 are positioned to engage over the lugs 19 andthe unit is rocked 'upon the lugs 19 as a fulcrum causing the lugs 33to" enter the grooves 89 and as the unit is swung'about the pivot 19these lugs 33 will travel into the grooves 89 until the lugs 33 are in aposition directly over therespective recesses or seats Bl. The weight ofthe unit will then cause the same to drop sufficiently causing the lugs33 to enter the'seats or recesses 8! thereby holding the unit removablyin position within the casing.

To remove the unit, it is only necessary to raise the same sufiicientlyto cause the lugs 33 to pass out of the seats or recesses 8| and intoposition or alinement with the-grooves 89 after which the unit may thenbe swung about the pivot lugs l9 until the lugs 33 have passed out ofthe grooves The ejector embodying the slide 59 may bereciprocated in anydesired or suitable manner .will be withdrawn only by the weight of theand its reciprocating movement is effected dium of any suitable coincontrol mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral 83,

but the mechanism is preferably of the type embodying a rotatablecamdevice 84 and a check carrier 85, the latter having'a check seat 89for receiving and conveying the check through the mechanism" anddepositing the same into the machine. i

The cam. 84 is adapted to operate upon spaced lugs or projections 81carried by a member 88,

pivotally mounted as at 89. This member 88 is provided with anarm 90that has pivotal connection with the slide 59 so that when a propercheck is deposited in the usual coin receiving slot 9| it will becarried through the mechanism 83 ,and the cam 84 will be rotated,thereby causing the member 88' to rock about its pivot 89 to reciprocatethe slide 50 and the associated ejector mechanism.

In order to prevent the coin from passing into the machine and actuatingthe slide and ejector in the absence of articles 92 in the container 29there is provided a detectorfor return mechanism which preferablyembodies a lever 93 (see parcheck from beingdeposited into the machinein the event that the container 20 is empty of articles. e

Pivotally mounted. in suitable bearings, as at 91 (see particularlyFigure 7) is a rocker member 98 one end of which is shaped to form anupright extension 99, that passes through an aperture in the freeextremity of the member 93. The other end of the member 98 is Shaped toform a rear- Wardly extending portionor arm I99, the free extremity In!of which is deflected upwardly and is adapted to passthrougha slot I 02,in the support 5!,and a slot I93, in the slide. 50, which slots are inregister so that the extremity ill! of the portion "30 of the rockermember 98 will also pass through theslot 29 (see Figures 4 and 6) in thesupport 25 at the bottom of the container 29 when the latter is lowered,so that the articles 92 in the container 20 will rest upon and depressthe extremit [9| of the rocker member 98, to SWing the member 93 aboutits pivot 94 againstthe stress of the spring 95 and thereby withdraw thefinger 96 to a position'that the check in the check seat 85 of the checkcar rier 85 will be discharged from the check seat when the check seatis inverted by the rotation of the knob or handle 82.

When there are no articles 92 in the container '29 the spring 95 willmove the member 93 to a position that the finger 99 will be locatedbeneath the edge of the coin in the check seat 89 when the latter isinverted to prevent the delivery or discharge of the coin. The movementof. this member 93 under the stress of the spring 95 will through themedium of the extension 99 on the rocker member 98, rock the latter andthereby elevate the extremity llH.

Inasmuch as the finger 96 of the member 93 articles 92 in the container29, it will be manifest thatwhen the container 29 is elevated and thecontainer H is lowered, unless some provision is made for depressing theextension l9! of the rocker member 98 to withdraw the finger 96 on themember 93, it would. not be possible to dispense the articles from therear container 2I.

Therefore, in order to permit the articles from the rear container to bedispensed first, there is provided a resilient or spring member I04 (seeparticularly Figure '7) which operates to normally depress the extremityIOI of the rocker member 98 and to hold the finger 96 retracted.

This spring I04 operates upon the end I05 of another rocker member I06and which end I05 passes over and engages the extension I of the rockermember 98, and as the spring I04 tends normally to depress the end I ofthe rocker member I00 the end I05 will in turn depress the extension I00on the rocker member 98.

Another portion of the rocker member I06 is shaped to form an arm I01disposed below the support 5I and extending rearwardly in a direc tiontoward the rear container 2I, the extension I01 being deflectedlaterally'as at I08 and then upwardly as at I 09, and the extremity H0is shaped to form a shoulder which latter when engaged and depressedwill rock the rocker member I06 to elevate the end I05 against thestress of the spring I04, thereby releasing the rocker member 98 so thatthe spring 95 will move the member 93 about its pivot 94 in a directionto position the finger 96 so that it will prevent discharge of the checkfrom the check seat 80. The member 90 will assume this position whenthere are no articles 92 in the container 20.

The rocker member I06 is actuated to raise the end I05 against thestress of the spring E04 and thereby release the rocker member 98, bythe lowering movement of the container and to that end there is providedon the wall of the front container 20 a bracket I II (see particularlyFigure 1) which is positioned (see also Figure 4) to contact theshoulder IIO on the rocker member I08, when the container 20 is lowered,and depress the shoulder IIO rocking the member I06 in a direction toraise the end I05 against the stress of the spring I04.

As soon as the front container is in a position to have the articlesdispensed therefrom, the articles 92 will engage and depress the end IDIof the rocker member 98 and thereby withdraw the finger 96 on the member93. These parts will be held in this position until all of the articles92 have been dispensed from the front container 20, after which thespring 95 will swing the member 93 back into a position that the finger90 will prevent the coin from being discharged from the coin carrier andthe end I0i of the rocker member 98 will be elevated.

Thus it will be seen that when the two containers are filled and theyare inserted into the casing I5, the front container 20 will be elevatedand the rear container 2I will be lowered against the stress of thespring 39, the containers being held in this relative position by theengagement of the dog 44 over the lug 42 on the wall of the container 2I. 96 retracted and by depositing a proper check into the check or coinslot 9| the handle or knob 82 may be operated and the slide with theejector mechanism will be moved rearwardly, the frame 50 swinging aboutits pivots against the stress of the spring 63 by being depressed whenthe fingers 61 pass under the articles in the container.

Upon the forward movement of the slide, the ejector will eject thelowermost article in the rear container.

So long as there are articles in the rear con- The spring I04 will holdthe fingertainer '2I the arm I0 will be held in an inoperative positionby means of the spring I3. When, however, the rear container 2I is emptyand the slide or follower 11 moves downwardly its extension 18willengage the arm I0 to move and hold it in a position that upon thenext forward'movement of the slide 50 the shoulder II on the armlfl willengage the shoulder 49 on the dog 44 and rock it against the tension ofthe spring 44-A to move the dog out of engagement with the lug 42 on thecontainer 2I. Thus released, the spring 39 will act to raise the rearcontainer and lower the front container. The containers will beheld inthis relative position by means of the spring 39.

As the front 0 container 20 is lowered, the bracket III will engage theshoulder IIO on the rocker-member I06 to raise the end of the latteragainst the stress of the spring I04 thereby releasing the rocker member98 and the extremity I0! will tend to rise under the influence of thespring operating on the member 93, but, inasmuch as the front containeris filled with articles 92 the extremity IOI of the rocker member 98will be immediately depressed by the engagement of the articlestherewith, and this will resuit in the withdrawal of the finger 96.

As soon, however, as the front container is empty and as the rockermember I 09 is positioned to relieve the rocker member 98 from thestress of the spring I04, the spring 95 will then shift the member 93 toposition the finger 96 so'that a coin cannot be deposited in the machinebut will be returned to the operator.

In order to protect the machine and mechanism against damage in anattempt to operate the same by the actuation of the knob or handle 82under predetermined conditions, the knob. is constructed so as to yieldand to that end the knob is of a hollow construction and seated thereinis a disc II2 (see particularly Figure 10) which is held againstrotation with respect to the knob in any suitable manner such as bymeans of an ear or projection II3 seated in a recess H4 in the wall ofthe handle. This disc tures I I5 in the disc II2.

Any desired number of annular spring members II9 engage and rest uponthe balls H0.

The disc- II2 is provided with a circular opening I20 while the disc H5is provided with an opening I2I registering therewith, but the open.-ing I2I is angular in cross-section as shown more clearly in Figure 8. a

A shaft I22 is provided with a reduced extremity I23. The shaft passesthrough the annular springs I I9, and the reduced extremity I23 passesthrough the aperture IZI in the disc H5 and is seated'in the apertureI29 in the disc H2.

The portion of the shaft I22 which is seated in the aperture I20 in thedisc II 2 is adapted to rotate in the disc I I2 as the latter is heldagainst rotation by the ear or projection H3 in recess II4. An angularportion of the reduced end I23 of the shaft I22 passes-1 through theaperture amass? I2I and causes the disc -II6 to be held against rotationwhen the rotation of the shaft is prevented and the disc I I2 will berotated with the handle and with respect to the shaft and disc I I6.During such rotation the springs II9 will yield to permit the balls IIBto move out of the apertures us in the disc I I2 so that the disc I I6may be rotated. This rotation of the disc I I5 may be continued untilthe balls II8 are in position to enter other apertures H5 in the disc II2.

Passing through the shaft I22 is a pin I24 which engages and restsagainst the springs II9 and holds them under tension.

Resting against the pin I 24 is an annular mem" ber I25 which formsabearing or surface over which the pin I24 moves. 2 Resting against anannular shoulder I26 in'the knob 82 is an annular member I2'I whichlatter may be of any desired thickness according to the number ofspringelements II9 it is desired 'to employ.

A plate I28 encompasses the shaft I22 and rests against the member I25and the annular member I21, and a cap member I29 may also be provided,

respect to the shaft because the disc II6 will also be held againstrotation by the angular portion of the shaft I22 passing therethrough,but the disc II2 being connected with the knob 82 will rotate therewithcausing the disc I I 2'to rotate with respect to the disc H6. 1

the apertures I I5 in the disc I I2 against the stress of the springsH9. l As soon, however, as other apertures I I5 in the disc .I I2 are inalinement with the balls II8 the springs II 9 will project the balls.IIB into suchapertures I I5.

The tension of the springs I I Bis such that under normal conditions andnormal operation of the machine or rotation of the knob or handle 82 thedisc H2 and disc IIB will be locked for rotation together. p

It sometimes happens that the commodity which is being dispensed becomesdistorted in shape and will bulge or sag intermediate its ends.

.In order to hold such distorted package or article ina' proper'positionin the containers to compensate such distortion, there may be providedin the respective supports or ledges 24-25, elements or blocks 25--Awhich are arranged on each side of and spaced from the center of suchledges and upon which elements- 25-A the ends of the article may restwhile the sagging or dis- 'torted portion will be disposed therebetween.

the scope of the claims, without departing from the spirit of thisinvention. I -What is claimed as new is: r

. 1. In a vending machine two relatively move able holders for differentsupplies of articlestobe vended,'means connecting the holders togetherin a manner that when one is moved in one direction the other will bemoved in the opposite direction,

means tending normally to impart such relative movement, locking meansfor restraininggthe, holders against such relative movement and formaintaining one of the holders in position that articles maybe ejectedtherefrom, an ejector for the articles, said ejector being common to thesaid holders, an actuator for the ejector, and releasing means operatingupon the exhausting of the articles from one of the containers, torender the said locking means ineffective, thereby adapting? the holdersto be .relatively shifted to move the emp-tyholder out of the way withrespect to the ejector, and a full holder into position with respecttothe ejector to have the articles ejected from the latter upon operationof thesaid ejector.

2. In a vending machine twp relatively movable holders for differentsupplies of articles to be. vended, an ejector for the articles commonto the said holders, said holders each having a delivery, outlet, meanswhereby upon movement of one of the holders to position its deliveryoutlet adja' cent said ejector the other holder will besh'ifted to causeitsdelivery outlet to, be moved out of the way with respect to theejector, means tending normally to impart such relative movement, a

latch device for maintaining said holders against relative movement, amember movable with 'and with respect to said ejector, a follower in one'of the holdersoperable upon" said member when the articles areexhausted from the lastsaid holder to shift the latch to render thelatter inactive to release the said holders, thereby adapting them? Thiswill cause the balls M8 to be forced outof for Sald relatlve' movementand means operat" ing to render the said member inactive with respect'tosaid latch when-there are articles to be vended, in the last'saidholder.

I 3. In a vending machine two relatively movable holders for differentsupplies of articles to be vended, means connecting the'holders togetherin a manner that when one is moved in one direction the other will bemoved in the opposite direction,

means tending normally to impart such relative movement, said holdersand both of the said means' constituting a unitary structure, anenclosing casing into and from which the said unit is freely insertableand removable, locking means within the casing for restraining theholders against such relative movement and for maintaining one of theholders in a position that. articles may be ejected therefrom, anejector for the articles, said ejector beingcommon to. the

ejector.

, 4; In a vending machine and as a unitary structure, a frame embodyingbase and upright members, a pair of holders for different supplies ofarticles to be 'vended, saidholdersbeingdisposed between the uprightsand arranged'with their v livery outlet adjacent its lower end, leverspivotal ly connected intermediate their ends to said uprights, pivotalconnections between .the ends of the levers and the respective adjacentholders,

whereby the holders are adapted for relative longitudinal movement, aspring tending normally to move one of the containers in one direction,a casing in which said unit is disposed, a catch in the casing adaptedto lock the containers against such relative movement, an ejector commonto the holders, an actuator for the ejector, and means operating underpredetermined conditions with respect to the articles in one ofthe'holders torender the said catch inactive thereby adapting the saidcontainers for relative movement under the influence of said spring. 15. Ina vending machine and as a unitary structure, a frame embodyingbase and upright members, a pair of holders for different supplies ofarticles to be vended, said holders being disposed between the uprightsand arranged with their backs adjacent each other and each having adelivery outlet adjacent its lower end, levers pivotally connectedintermediate their ends to said uprights, pivotal connections betweenthe ends of the levers and the respective adjacent holders, whereby theholders are, adapted for relative longitudinal movement, a springtending normally to move one of the containers in one direction, acasing in which said unit is disposed, a catch in the casing adapted tolock the containers against such relative movement, an ejector common tothe holders, an actuator for the ejector, a spring controlled pawlcarried with the ejector and normally inactive with respect to saidcatch, and a follower in one of the said holders adapted upon theexhausting of the articles from such holder to render said pawl activewith respect to said catch to render the catch inactive and adapt saidholder for such relative movement upon actuation of the said ejector. 6.In a vending machine two relatively movable holders for articles to bevended, an ejector common to the holders, mechanism for actuating theejector, an element tending normally to maintain the ejector actuatingmeans ineffective, means for moving one of said article holders intodelivery position with respect to the ejector when the other is movedoutoi such delivery position, means operating when articles are presentin one of the holders to render said element inactive to cause saidejector actuating means to be rendered active, means operating when thelast said article holder is moved out of article delivery positionholders for articles to be vended, an ejector common to said holders,mechanism for actuating the ejector, means'for moving one of the holdersout of delivery position when the other is moved into articledelivery'position, means operating when articles are present in one ofthe holders to adapt the ejector actuating mechanism for operation whenthe last said holder is in article delivery position, means forrendering the ejector actuating mechanism ineffective with respect tothe ejector when the last said holder is moved out of article deliveryposition and, the other article holder is moved into article deliveryposition,

and means responsive to the positioning of the first recited articleholder into a delivery position for re-adapting the ejector actuatingmechanism to be rendered effective by the presence of articles in thelast said holder and ineffective in the ab senceof articles therein.

8. In a vending machinetwo holders for the articles to be vended, anejector common to said holders, means for actuating the ejector,supports for the article holders, levers pivotally connectedintermediate their ends to the said supports and also connected at theirends tothe respective ad jacent article holders, whereby upon movementof one of said holders into article delivery position, the other will bemoved out of article delivery position, means tending normally to swingthe levers about their pivots in one direction, locking mechanism 'formaintaining theisaid holders against movement under the-stress of thelast said' means, and'releasing mechanism carried with said ejector forrendering the 'said'locking means ineffective and the lever swingingmeans effective to relatively sh'ift'the article holders. 9. In avending machine and as a unitary structure, two holdersfor separatesupplies of articles to be vended, supports for the holders,leverspivotally connected intermediate their ends to the supports and at theirends to the respective article holders, resilient means tending normallyto swingsaid levers about their pivots in one direction to relativelyshift the article holders, a easing into which 'said'unit is freelyinsertable and removable, an ejector in the casing common to the articleholders, locking mechanism for maintaining the levers against movementunder the stress of said resilient means, an actuator for the ejector,and means responsive to the operation of said ejector when all of thearticles have been ejected thereby from one of the article holders torender the said locking means ineffective, whereby the said resilientmeans will swing said' levers about their pivots'to move the emptyarticle" holder out of the way'with respect to the ejector and afullarticle holderinto a position that articles'may be delivered fromthe lat-'- ter upon actuation of said ejector. a

- MYRON I-I. RICHARDSON.

FLOYD C. 'BLACK. ALBERT E. GEBERT.

